GOP Senate hopefuls tangle before facing Nelson

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., speaks in this file photo. Former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon of Indialantic is picking up endorsements and momentum as he seeks to deny Connie Mack, a Fort Myers Republican, the nomination. Mack has chosen to ignore his GOP rivals — who also include Mike McCalister and Marielena Stuart — and instead has focused on the incumbent, Nelson.

Michael Wilson/The Ledger

By Lloyd DunkelbergerTallahassee bureau

Published: Sunday, July 29, 2012 at 5:09 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, July 29, 2012 at 5:09 p.m.

TALLAHASSEE — Although he remains the favorite, U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV is facing increasing competition in the Aug. 14 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate.

Former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon of Indialantic is picking up endorsements and momentum as he seeks to deny Mack, a Fort Myers Republican, the nomination. Mack has chosen to ignore his GOP rivals — who also include Mike McCalister and Marielena Stuart — and instead has focused on the incumbent, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.

Meanwhile, Nelson, seeking his third term, faces a Democratic primary challenge from a little-known opponent, Glenn Burkett of Panama City.

The field of Republican challengers has been in flux for the last year, starting with the departure of state Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, from the race last summer. Mack, the son of former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack, joined the primary field in the fall and former state Rep. Adam Hasner and Craig Miller left the Senate race to pursue congressional bids.

The primary then shaped up as a battle between Mack and former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, R-Fort Lauderdale, with LeMieux at one point calling Mack “the Charlie Sheen of Florida politics,” based on reports of controversies in Mack’s past, including bar brawls and financial problems stemming from his divorce. Then LeMieux dropped out of the race.

Weldon, a former congressman from Brevard County who left Congress because of his personal commitment to term limits, was the final entry into the field before the qualifying period closed in June.

Mack leads in fundraising with some $1.4 million, compared with Weldon’s $131,000. But Weldon is picking up support from some key grassroots groups, including religious conservatives.

State Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, said Weldon has a chance in the primary if he can ignite support among the more conservative voters and present himself as a viable alternative to Mack, who has the support of most of the state’s Republican establishment. He also noted polls show roughly a third of the GOP voters remain undecided in the primary race.

“Obviously some things will have to fall into place very quickly,” Baxley said. Rank-and-file voters are “going to have to say, ‘We’re going to resist the establishment choosing our candidate.’”

One key distinction that could be important to social-conservative voters is Weldon’s strong opposition to the use of embryonic stem cells in medical research, Baxley said.

“If that catches fire that could bring a lot of energy,” said Baxley, the former head of the Christian Coalition of Florida. “For pro-lifers, social conservatives, Weldon is 10-feet tall compared to Connie Mack.”

Weldon was endorsed by the Tampa Bay Times, the state’s largest newspaper. Mack’s campaign dismissed the endorsement from a newspaper that he said was promoting “a left-wing agenda.”

Mack has the money and backing of the Republican establishment, including Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.

After bitterly criticizing him while he was in the primary, LeMieux has endorsed Mack.

Mack said he and LeMieux agreed “that the internal fight among Republicans would not have been helpful in our shared commitment to defeat Bill Nelson.”

Mack’s strategy has been to ignore his remaining Republican opponents, including declining to participate in any debates. He has instead continued to criticize Nelson, calling him a “lockstep liberal.”

Independent polling has shown that a potential race between Mack and Nelson would be very competitive.

McCalister, a retired military officer and tree farmer from Plant City, and Stuart, a conservative activist from Collier County, have not garnered much support, remaining at single digits in the pre-primary polling.

McCalister, touting his credentials of 33 years in military service and his small business background, has raised $325,000 for his campaign.

He calls himself “an unapologetic conservative.”

McCalister said he will back efforts to revive the economy “by cutting spending, reducing the deficit and lowering taxes. He also said he would support efforts to protect American products and technology “against unfair foreign competition.”

Stuart, an immigrant from Cuba and outspoken critic of embryonic stem cell research, has raised $34,000 through June. She opposed a plan to bring a Jackson Laboratory facility to Collier County because of its stem cell work.

Stuart, who won a straw poll among Pinellas County Republicans last month, has the endorsement of former California Republican Rep. Bob Dornan.

Nelson, a former congressman and state insurance commissioner who first won election to the U.S. Senate in 2000, is the leading fund-raiser in the overall race.

Through the end of June, Nelson has more than $11 million in the bank, having raised $1.8 million in the second quarter of this year.

<p>TALLAHASSEE — Although he remains the favorite, U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV is facing increasing competition in the Aug. 14 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate.</p><p>Former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon of Indialantic is picking up endorsements and momentum as he seeks to deny Mack, a Fort Myers Republican, the nomination. Mack has chosen to ignore his GOP rivals — who also include Mike McCalister and Marielena Stuart — and instead has focused on the incumbent, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.</p><p>Meanwhile, Nelson, seeking his third term, faces a Democratic primary challenge from a little-known opponent, Glenn Burkett of Panama City.</p><p>The field of Republican challengers has been in flux for the last year, starting with the departure of state Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, from the race last summer. Mack, the son of former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack, joined the primary field in the fall and former state Rep. Adam Hasner and Craig Miller left the Senate race to pursue congressional bids.</p><p>The primary then shaped up as a battle between Mack and former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, R-Fort Lauderdale, with LeMieux at one point calling Mack “the Charlie Sheen of Florida politics,” based on reports of controversies in Mack's past, including bar brawls and financial problems stemming from his divorce. Then LeMieux dropped out of the race.</p><p>Weldon, a former congressman from Brevard County who left Congress because of his personal commitment to term limits, was the final entry into the field before the qualifying period closed in June.</p><p>Mack leads in fundraising with some $1.4 million, compared with Weldon's $131,000. But Weldon is picking up support from some key grassroots groups, including religious conservatives.</p><p>State Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, said Weldon has a chance in the primary if he can ignite support among the more conservative voters and present himself as a viable alternative to Mack, who has the support of most of the state's Republican establishment. He also noted polls show roughly a third of the GOP voters remain undecided in the primary race.</p><p>“Obviously some things will have to fall into place very quickly,” Baxley said. Rank-and-file voters are “going to have to say, 'We're going to resist the establishment choosing our candidate.'”</p><p>One key distinction that could be important to social-conservative voters is Weldon's strong opposition to the use of embryonic stem cells in medical research, Baxley said.</p><p>“If that catches fire that could bring a lot of energy,” said Baxley, the former head of the Christian Coalition of Florida. “For pro-lifers, social conservatives, Weldon is 10-feet tall compared to Connie Mack.”</p><p>Weldon was endorsed by the Tampa Bay Times, the state's largest newspaper. Mack's campaign dismissed the endorsement from a newspaper that he said was promoting “a left-wing agenda.”</p><p>Mack has the money and backing of the Republican establishment, including Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.</p><p>After bitterly criticizing him while he was in the primary, LeMieux has endorsed Mack.</p><p>Mack said he and LeMieux agreed “that the internal fight among Republicans would not have been helpful in our shared commitment to defeat Bill Nelson.”</p><p>Mack's strategy has been to ignore his remaining Republican opponents, including declining to participate in any debates. He has instead continued to criticize Nelson, calling him a “lockstep liberal.”</p><p>Independent polling has shown that a potential race between Mack and Nelson would be very competitive.</p><p>McCalister, a retired military officer and tree farmer from Plant City, and Stuart, a conservative activist from Collier County, have not garnered much support, remaining at single digits in the pre-primary polling.</p><p>McCalister, touting his credentials of 33 years in military service and his small business background, has raised $325,000 for his campaign.</p><p>He calls himself “an unapologetic conservative.”</p><p>McCalister said he will back efforts to revive the economy “by cutting spending, reducing the deficit and lowering taxes. He also said he would support efforts to protect American products and technology “against unfair foreign competition.”</p><p>Stuart, an immigrant from Cuba and outspoken critic of embryonic stem cell research, has raised $34,000 through June. She opposed a plan to bring a Jackson Laboratory facility to Collier County because of its stem cell work.</p><p>Stuart, who won a straw poll among Pinellas County Republicans last month, has the endorsement of former California Republican Rep. Bob Dornan.</p><p>Nelson, a former congressman and state insurance commissioner who first won election to the U.S. Senate in 2000, is the leading fund-raiser in the overall race.</p><p>Through the end of June, Nelson has more than $11 million in the bank, having raised $1.8 million in the second quarter of this year.</p>